Solid storage systems



March 15, 1966 o. A. GIBBONS 3,240,546

SOLID STORAGE SYSTEMS Filed April 22, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 fiwavro Armm A'I March 15, 1966 o. A. GIBBONS 3,240,546

SOLID STORAGE SYSTEMS Filed April 22, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 //VVi/V70 07290 4. 6/550:

United States Patent Ofiice 3,24%,546 Patented Mar. 15, 1966 3,240,546 SOLID STORAGE SYSTEMS Utho A. Gibbons, 2 Cleveland Crescent, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada Filed Apr. 22, 1963, Ser. No. 274,205 2 Claims. (Cl. 312-267) The present invention relates to methods of storage, and is a continuation-in-part of my United States patent application Serial No. 126,759 filed on the 16th day of June 1961, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of my United States patent application Serial No. 47,875 filed on the th day of August, 1960, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of my United States patent application Serial No. 716,679 filed on the 21st day of February, 1958, all abandoned. The single embodiment described and claimed herein has the characteristic of intra-movability, or movement of component compartments within a frame-work in such a way as to provide a maximum of usable and accessible storage area within a given volume of space.

A further object of my invention is to provide a plurality of adjacent compartments wherein can be stored for easy access at the ends of the system, various kinds of storable matter, for example ofiice files, it being understood that the system would be designed as to dimensions and mechanical features according to purpose.

The most common form of storage known to me is an arrangement of static bins or racks placed in pairs, back to back, being made accessible from a main center or side aisle. According to this method, in order to obtain free access to all parts of each bin, adequate space must be allowed between the pairs and suitable illumination must be provided. When more than one tier of storage is required, stairways and catwalks are necessary to make the upper tier accessible.

Some reduction in aisle-space has been achieved by the expedient of mounting storage bins on rails running parallel to the main aisle. By this means access may be obtained to any one storage bin by sliding them apart at the required juncture. This method, however, does not simplify the illumination problem for each bin. Furthermore, double tier storage is complicated by the need for movable access means to the upper tiers.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for presenting to an operator, situated at one end of my system, any one storage cabinet within a working area facing the storage cabinet structure. Furthermore, the compartments may be presented at a convenient working height for access to upper and lower sections thereof.

A further object is to provide a longitudinal and vertical storage system in which it is unnecessary for the user to stoop or stretch when loading or withdrawing the contents of any individual compartment.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, my invention consists in the following arrangement and construction of parts, all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying figures in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal elevation, partly in section, of the end portion of a horizontal embodiment of the present solid storage system depicting upper and lower trains of shallow cabinets.

FIGURE 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective representation of the loading and unloading area of the embodiment of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary frontal elevation of the setting detail for a means whereby the storage cabinets of the embodiment of FIGURES l to 3 may be selected.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective representation from the rear of the mechanism associated with FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a diagram of the circuitry associated with the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 5.

In the accompanying FIGURES 4 through 6 I have illustrated a means for selecting the required storage cabinet in the embodiment of my invention just described. In this arrangement, I employ a disc in combination with a manually rotatable pointer 161 having an aperture 162 therein registrable with the numbers 163. These numbers correspond with the storage cabinets. The arrangements to be described are such that when the pointer 161 is rotated from its twelve oclock position illustrated, and a central push-button 164lpressed, said pointer and disc 160 will rotate clockwise or counter-clockwise back to the twelve oclock position as a unit with the aperture of the pointer remaining in registration with the number to which it was last rotated. The correspondingly numbered storage cabinet will now be in registration with aperture 225 (FIGURE 1).

The foregoing is accomplished by the following structural arrangements: Secured for rotation with disc 16!) at the back thereof is a sprocket wheel 165 which is operated by sprocket wheel 166 via chain 167. Sprocket 166 in turn is keyed to shaft 1613 on the opposite end of which is a bevelled gear 169 in mesh with a second bevelled gear 171? keyed to a shaft 171 connected to motor 140 (FIGURE 6). Extending centrally through sprocket wheel 165 to be rotated independently thereof but against frictional resistance from hub 172 is a hollow shaft 173 through which leads 174 extend from push-button 164 to the secondary circuit collectively designated 175.

Keyed to shaft 173 are two spaced cams 176 and 177 of the configuration illustrated. Cam 176 is provided with a single depression 173 whereby it actuates a limit switch collectively designated 177 through the follower and arm collectively designated 178'.

Cam 177 upon rotation actuates through the follower and arm assembly 179, the limit switch 180. Additionally, via the follower and arm 181, it operates the limit switch 182.

On the panel 183 adjacent disc 160 is situated a pair of lamps 184 and 185 of which the former is green and the latter red. In the position as illustrated in the accompanying FIGURES 4 through 6 it will be apparent that the green light is on indicating the system is at rest.

In operation, when pointer 161 is rotated, limit switches 177 and or 182 are mechanically operated to close across terminals 136 and 187 or 188. The green light is thereby extinguished.

If push-button 164 be depressed following rotation of pointer 161, red light will go on. Simultaneously the relay coils 189 and 190 will energize contacts 191 and 192. When this occurs, the appropriate contacts of supply circuit 193 are closed causing motor 140 to rotate clockwise or counter-clockwise whichever distance is the shorter to rotate the desired storage cabinet into opening position, and, simultaneously therewith, rotate disc 160 and pointer 161 together back to the twelve oclock position.

After push-button 16 is released, contacts 191 and 192 hold in the relay until the operation is complete. Likewise lamp 185 remains on for this period.

Rectangle 194 represents my motor starter, it being understood that the two coils 189 and 190 aforesaid govern clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation of motor 140. Thus, by virtue of the shape of cam 177, it will be understood that only one or other of limit switches 180 or 182 will be actuated. Specifically, limit switch 180 only will be actuated if pointer 161 is rotated clockwise, while only limit switch 182 will be actuated if the pointer is rotated counter-clockwise.

Describing now the movable, solid-storage system of the accompanying FIGURES 1 through 3, the same comprises in combination, upper and lower pairs of substantially horizontal rails 219 and 220 respectively in combination with the upper and lower trains of open fronted storage cabinets individually designated 221, together with the other components hereinafter to be described.

Cabinets 221 are relatively shallow and each preferably open upon the side 222 for the reason which will presently become apparent. At one end of the system of the accompanying FIGURE 1 is a loading and unloading area generally designated 223. By best reference to the accompanying FIGURE 3 it will be observed that this area includes a wall 224 having an aperture 225 therein preferably closable by a sliding shutter 226 and fronted by a counter 227. Extending into area 223 is a pair of leveltransfer wheels collectively designated 228. A similar pair of wheels is positioned at the opposite end of the system. Their direction of travel is reversible, and at this point it is to be remarked that this system may be installed either horizontally as indicated, or at a considerable angle without adversely affecting its satisfactory operation provided only, in such case, that the wall 224 is vertical.

Rollers 229 projecting from either side of each container 221, support that container upon the rails 219 and 220. Level-transfer wheels 228 project into the space 230 between the upper and lower pairs of rails, in alignment with rollers 229 so that the cabinets 221 can pass freely between the said wheels in transfer between upper and lower levels 230 (aforesaid) and 231.

Adjacent wheels 228 are rotary elements 232 and 232 which may be said generally to take the form of sprockets, the dogs 233 of which, upon rotation engage the rollers 229 (or lugs projecting therefrom) and convey the rollers (or lugs) onto the perimeter 234 of wheels 228 at the points thereon where cavitations 235 are provided for the reception of said rollers or lugs, it being understood in this connection that the rotation of elements 233 and wheels 228 are synchronized such that there is always a cavitation 235 in such co-incidence with the rollers of the leftmost cabinet 221 that it is smoothly transferred onto wheels 228 by the upper elements 233 without any jarring or jamming. Obviously the number of cavitations 235 in wheels 238 will be determined by the necessities of proper synchronization. These remarks also apply to the diameter of elements 232, and the spacing of the dogs 233 thereon.

The cabinets 221 travel in an arcuate path downwardly (or in the case of the other end, upwardly) around wheels 228, the rollers or lugs 229 thereof being maintained in the cavitations 235 by virtue of the arcuate fences 236. The lower elements 233 serve to transfer the cabinets 221 smoothly from wheels 228 at the lower tangent of their travel. At mid distance of the transfer between two levels 230 and 231, it will be apparent from the accompanying FIGURE 1 that the cabinet is in exact alignment with and adjacent the aperture 225 whereby the same may be loaded or unloaded conveniently. It is of course to be understood that all cabinets are numbered, and a similar set of numbers will appear on the panel or dial 237.

Wheels 228 may be operated by a motor such as 238 through the belt drive 239. A second belt 240 is connected between the said motor and shaft 241 on the unit 242 which includes the aforesaid dial 237 and associated pointer 253. Shaft 241 corresponds to shaft 171 of the accompanying FIGURE 5 to be described shortly. Elements 232 and 232' may also, through suitable gearing, be driven from a motor or source of power such as 238. Movement of the said elements is effected by the provision of upper and lower bevel gears 243 and 244 keyed to the elements, and bevel gears 245 and 246 in mesh therewith. The gears 245 and 246 are keyed to shafts 247 and 248, the opposite ends of which are keyed to helical gears 249 and 250 on either side of a worm gear 251 connected to drive shaft 252. In virtue of such arrangement, it will be apparent that shafts 247 and 248 rotate in the opposite directions indicated by the surrounding arrows so that the upper elements 232 rotate counter-clockwise and the lower elements 232' clockwise.

Since various modifications can be made in the invention hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and numerous variations made thereto all within the spirit and scope of the invention without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that the said description and drawings are to be interpreted as illustrated only, and not in a limiting sense, and that only such limitations should be placed upon my invention as are specifically contained in the definition thereof as expressed in the accompanying claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A movable solid-storage system comprising in combination upper and lower pairs of substantially horizontal rails, a train of open-fronted storage cabinets suspended from rollers for travel between said pairs of rails, said rollers riding on said rails, means at the ends of said pairs of rails for moving said cabinets between said upper and lower pairs of rails including level-transfer wheels between said upper and lower pairs of rails, said wheels projecting beyond the ends of said rails and having perimetrically situated means for supporting said cabinets via said rollers, and rotary elements adjacent the ends of the upper and lower pairs of rails engageable with said rollers for transferring said cabinets from one pair of rails to said wheels and from said wheels to the other pair of rails, and a loading and unloading area at one end of the system, said area being enclosed by a wall having an aperture therein, and panel-actuated control means associated with a source of power for moving any designated one of said cabinets into aligned adjacency to said aperture, and holding it there.

2. The system according to claim 1 which includes an arcuate fence adjacent the projecting perimeters of said wheels to prevent said rollers from leaving said wheels.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,113,308 4/1938 Morton. 2,260,528 10/1941 Levy et al. 2,673,779 3/1954 Stewart et al. 2,712,875 7/1955 Leopold. 2,761,572 9/1956 Baker 2l416.12 2,781,922 2/ 1957 Hibbard.

FOREIGN PATENTS 719,154 3/1942 Germany. 297,219 3/1954 Switzerland.

GERALD M. FLORENZA, Primary Examiner.

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Examiner. 

1. A MOVABLE SOLID-STORAGE SYSTEM COMPRISING IN COMBINATION UPPER AND LOWER PAIRS OF SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL RAILS, A TRAIN OF OPEN-FRONTED STORAGE CABINETS SUSPENDED FROM ROLLERS FOR TRAVEL BETWEEN SAID PAIRS OF RAILS, SAID ROLLERS RIDING ON SAID RAILS, MEANS AT THE ENDS OF SAID PAIRS OF RAILS FOR MOVING SAID CABINETS BETWEEN SAID UPPER AND LOWER PAIRS OF RAILS INCLUDING LEVEL-TRANSFER WHEELS BETWEEN SAID UPPER AND LOWER PAIRS OF RAILS, SAID WHEELS PROJECTING BEYOND THE ENDS OF SAID RAILS AND HAVING PERIMETRICALLY SITUATED MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID CABINETS VIA SAID ROLLERS, AND ROTARY ELEMENTS ADJACENT THE ENDS OF THE UPPER AND LOWER PAIRS OF RAILS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID ROLLERS FOR TRANSFERRING SAID CABINETS FROM ONE PAIR OF RAILS TO SAID WHEELS AND FROM SAID WHEELS TO THE OTHER PAIR OF RAILS, AND A LOADING AND UNLOADING AREA AT ONE END OF THE SYSTEM, SAID AREA BEING ENCLOSED BY A WALL HAVING AN APERTURE THEREIN, AND PANEL-ACTUATED CONTROL MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH A SOURCE OF POWER FOR MOVING ANY DESIGNATED ONE OF SAID CABINETS INTO ALIGNED ADJACENCY TO SAID APERTURE, AND HOLDING IT THERE. 